A new selection of 30 tales to mark the 200 year anniversary of Andersen`s birth in 2005. Tiina Nunnally`s sparkling translation captures the rawness and immediacy of Andersen`s style, for the first time enabling English readers to be as startled and amazed as his original readers were, and revealing the unique inventiveness of Andersen`s genius. At a time when children`s stories were formal, moral and didactic, Hans Christian Andersen revolutionized the genre, giving an anarchic twist to traditional folklore and creating a huge number of utterly original stories that sprang directly from his imagination. From the exuberant early stories such as The Emperor`s New Clothes`, though poignant masterpieces such as The Little Mermaid` and The Ugly Duckling`, to the darker, more subversive later tales written for adults, the stories included here are endlessly experimental, both humorous and irreverent, sorrowful and strange. This book beautifully illustrated with a selection of Andersen`s amazing paper cut-outs - will bring these magical tales to life for readers of any age.